Dan Boyce, his father and two former law partners allege Cooper and his campaign libeled them in a television commercial in 2000. Cooper and Boyce were running for attorney general that year.

Smith decided Boyce and his father will be plaintiffs in the first trial, followed by a second trial with the law partners. The judge ruled the Boyces are public figures — meaning they must meet a higher standard that Cooper acted with malice, rather than just being negligent.

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Dan Boyce, his father and two former law partners allege Cooper and his campaign libeled them in a television commercial in 2000. Cooper and Boyce were running for attorney general that year.

Smith decided Boyce and his father will be plaintiffs in the first trial, followed by a second trial with the law partners. The judge ruled the Boyces are public figures — meaning they must meet a higher standard that Cooper acted with malice, rather than just being negligent.